Salvia plant named ‘Golden Girl’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  plant of unknown parentage is provided that was discovered in a nursery setting while growing among other  Salvia  plants. Over a long blooming season attractive blossoms are formed that are pale yellow in coloration. The growth habit is compact and bushy. The foliage is large and medium green in coloration. Following pruning, the plant displays a tendency to vigorously regrow. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

Botanical/commercial classification: Salvia hybrida/Salvia Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Golden Girl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar of the present invention was discovered duringAugust or September, 2005, while growing in a plant nursery settingamong other Salvia plants at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A. The newcultivar is of unknown parentage and likely includes Salvia jamensis andSalvia microphylla in its ancestry. The new plant was distinguished fromother Salvia plants growing in the nursery where it was discoveredprimarily through a study of its distinctive blossom coloration combinedwith other attractive botanical characteristics identified hereafter.Had the single plant of the present invention not been discovered andcarefully preserved, it would have been lost to mankind.

The plant is a perennial that can be grown to advantage withoutprotection in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.

It was found that the new Salvia cultivar possesses the followingcombination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays a compact and bushy growth habit,    -   (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming season attractive        blossoms that are pale yellow in coloration,    -   (c) displays vigorous large medium green foliage,    -   (d) displays a tendency to vigorously regrow following pruning,        and    -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom other Salvia plants, such as the Salvia madrensis (non-patented inthe United States). Salvia madrensis also is yellow flowering butdisplays a considerably taller growth height (e.g., a height of 1.6 to2.3 m) unlike the new cultivar of the present invention.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens,public areas, and residential landscapes. The pale yellow blossomscontrast nicely with the green foliage.

The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by the rooting ofcuttings for several generations. Root strike from a cutting commonly isobserved in approximately 9 days on average. Such asexual reproductionas performed at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A., and near West Grove, Pa.,U.S.A., has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivarare firmly fixed and stable and are strictly transmissible from onegeneration to another. Accordingly, the new cultivar asexuallyreproduces in a true-to-type manner from one generation to another.

The new cultivar has been named ‘Golden Girl’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, aclose view of a typical specimen of the new cultivar while growingoutdoors. The pale yellow blossoms are illustrated as is the attractivelarge medium green foliage. The pink blossoms in the rear are fromanother plant and should be disregarded. The plant had been reproducedby the rooting of a cutting and was grown in a greenhouse in a containernear West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The photograph was obtained during July2010 when the plant was approximately one year of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England (1995Edition or equivalent). Color terminology in common terms sometimes isincluded as an aid to the reader. Such color terminology is to beaccorded its customary dictionary significance. The description is basedon the observation of typical specimens of the new cultivar at an age ofapproximately one year during July 2010 while growing in containersoutdoors near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Compact and bushy.        -   Height.—Commonly up to approximately 30 cm on average.        -   Width.—Commonly approximately 50 cm on average.        -   Growth habit.—Perennial in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to            11.        -   Branch length.—Commonly approximately 37 cm on average.        -   Branch diameter.—Commonly approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Branch color.—Near Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Branch texture.—Commonly covered with short hairs having            lengths of approximately 1 mm resulting in somewhat rough            texture.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf configuration.—Elliptic to oblong.        -   Leaf length.—Commonly approximately 3 to 3.5 cm on average.        -   Leaf width.—Commonly approximately 2 to 3 cm on average.        -   Leaf margin.—Repand.        -   Leaf texture.—Smooth on both surfaces.        -   Leaf blade color.—Green Group 137C on the upper surface, and            Green Group 138B on the under surface.        -   Leaf blade apex.—Acute to obtusely rounded.        -   Leaf blade base.—Mainly obtuse.        -   Scent.—Leaves commonly display a tangy fruity scent when            crushed.        -   Petiole shape.—Somewhat flattened.        -   Petiole length.—Variable and commonly approximately 5 to 9            mm.        -   Petiole width.—Commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 mm.        -   Petiole color.—Yellow-Green Group 145A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time.—Prolonged blooming period beginning in May and            extending through September.        -   Type.—Terminal raceme.        -   Diameter.—Commonly approximately 1.3 cm on average.        -   Length.—Commonly approximately 2 cm on average.        -   Number.—Commonly up to approximately 50 flowers per plant on            average.        -   Configuration.—Tubular, and two-lipped.        -   Pedicel length.—Commonly approximately 3 to 4 mm on average.        -   Pedicel width.—Commonly approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Pedicel texture.—Glabrous, with no observed pubescence.        -   Pedicel color.—Green, Yellow-Green Group 145B.        -   Calyx shape.—Broadly campanulate, and flared towards the            apex.        -   Calyx rib number.—Commonly 13, and longitudinally disposed.        -   Calyx length.—Commonly approximately 10 mm on average.        -   Calyx width.—Commonly up to 6 mm.        -   Calyx texture.—Glandular and puberulent on the upper and            under surfaces.        -   Calyx color.—On the upper lobe Red-Purple Group 60B at the            apex and Yellow-Green Group 145B at the base, and on the            lower lobes primarily Yellow-Green Group 145B.        -   Calyx lobe number.—3.        -   Calyx upper lobe number.—1.        -   Calyx upper lobe shape.—Acute.        -   Calyx upper lobe length.—Commonly approximately 4 mm on            average.        -   Calyx upper lobe width.—Commonly approximately 4 mm in            width.        -   Calyx lower lobe number.—2.        -   Calyx lower lobe shape.—Acute.        -   Calyx lower lobe length.—Commonly approximately 3 mm on            average.        -   Calyx lower lobe width.—Commonly approximately 4 mm on            average.        -   Corolla shape.—Tubular proximally to two-lipped distally.        -   Corolla length.—Commonly approximately 2.2 to 2.5 cm on            average.        -   Corolla color.—The base commonly is near Yellow-White Group            158D, the tube is near Yellow Group 6D, and the lower lip is            near Yellow Group 6D.        -   Corolla tube length.—Approximately 23 mm on average.        -   Corolla tube width.—Approximately 3 mm on average.        -   Corolla tube depth.—Approximately 7 mm on average.        -   Corolla tube lip number.—2.        -   Corolla upper lip number.—1.        -   Corolla upper lip shape.—Hood-like.        -   Corolla upper lip length.—Commonly approximately 9 mm            average.        -   Corolla lower lip length.—2, suborbicular.        -   Corolla lower lip shape.—Banner-like, and extended downward.        -   Corolla lower lip outline.—Obovate.        -   Corolla lower lip length.—Commonly approximately 12 mm on            average.        -   Corolla lower lip diameter at tip.—Approximately 12 mm on            average.        -   Style length.—Approximately 2.5 cm on average.        -   Style width.—Commonly approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Style attachment site.—At four-lobed ovary between lobes.        -   Stamen number.—2.        -   Stamen shape.—Seesaw-like.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 6 mm on average.        -   Connective length.—Approximately 12 mm on average.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Anther width.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Anther color.—Yellow-Orange Group 16A.        -   Anther attachment site.—At outer end of the connective.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and displays a tendency to quickly            regrow following pruning.        -   Blooming.—Displays long blooming season.        -   Fertility.—Not observed with the plants being sterile during            observations to date.        -   Winter hardiness.—The plant is a perennial that can be grown            in at least U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.        -   Disease resistance.—No particular sensitivity to disease has            been encountered during observations to date.        -   Pest resistance/susceptibility.—Believed to be typical of            the species.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) displays a compact andbushy growth habit, (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming seasonattractive blossoms that are pale yellow in coloration, (c) displaysvigorous large medium green foliage, (d) displays a tendency tovigorously regrow following pruning, and (e) is well suited forproviding attractive ornamentation; substantially as illustrated anddescribed.